Environment
Bayelsa to Host Global Online Summit on World Environment Day
In commemoration of the 2020 World Environment Day Celebration in the face of the global Coronavirus Pandemic, the Bayelsa State Government has concluded plans to host a virtual World Environment Day Global summit on Friday, June 5, 2020.
With the theme: THE IMPACT OF CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC ON THE AQUATIC FLORA AND FAUNA OF THE NIGER Delta, the summit will create an avenue for stakeholders in the state to collaborate, educate and discuss on the impact of the pandemic on the region with the aim of fashioning out measures to enhance human existence through an improved environment.
This has become more vital in view of the role the region plays in showing care and support for the environment especially with its peculiarity as a major producer of aquatic consumables in the country.
Chief Host at the event is the environmental friendly governor of the State, His Excellency Senator Douye Diri Governor of Bayelsa State while the chairman of the event is HRM. Bubarayo Dakolo Agada, (Ekpetiama Kingdom).
Also expected as the GUEST Speaker is Dr. Pereowei Subai, the renowned Envi ronmentalist Rev Nimmo Bassey, who is the Director of the Ecological think-tank, Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF) and member steering committee of Oilwatch International – a network resisting the expanDrn of fossil fuels extraction in the Global South.
Rev. Bassey was chair of Friends of the Earth International (FoEI) (2008-2012) and Executive Director of Nigeria’s Environmental Rights Action (1993-2013). Bassey serves on the boards of a number of non-profit organisation including Global Greengrants Fund, Action Group on Erosion, Technology and Concentration (ETC Group), and of Navdanya International.
He was a co-recipient of the 2010 Right Livelihood Award also known as the “Alternative Noble Prize.”
Others are Princess Elizabeth Egbe, a rights activist, Public Commentator/Analysist, An Advocate, Entrepreneur, A Mentor and An Evangelist, Coordinator of Global Care Rescue Mission aka Operation Rescue, State Coordinator, Tax Justice And Good Governance Platform, Environmental Activist and Developmental expert.
Morris Alagoa was the Bayelsa State Secretary of Civil Liberties Organisatiin (CLO) between 2007-2012.
He became the first and only ERA staff to receive Awards as Environmental/Human Rights monitor in 2008 and Comrade Che Ibegwura Award in 2013 (from ERA). Other Awards includes “Defender of the Environment(issued by Environmental Outreach magazine), Environmentalist of the Year, 2013 ( by alumni of Ijaw female Students, Bayelsa State), three times winner of Environmentalist of the Year ( Bayelsa Merit Award– 2017,2018 and 2019), and Nollyhood Environmentalist Award 2019.
Alagoa Morris loves to write Developmental Articles, especially about our communities and has had several published in local and national newspapers since 2004.
Also expected is Dr. Tubodenyefa Zibima, a University lecturer and consultant whose research focus is on comparative environmental regulatory frameworks, extractive and conflict. His recent advisory roles include providing technical assistance in reforming environmental legislation in the Nigerian oil and gas sector to the House Committee on Environment and Habitat of the 8th and 9th National assemblies and NOSDRA. From 2016/18 he was the Team Lead for the Environment Component of the Dutch Environment and Governance Framework for the Niger Delta, a project funded by the Government of the Netherlands and implemented by Stakeholder Democracy Network.
Veteran broadcast journalist, Mamode Felix Akugha will moderate the virtual meeting. Felix Emamode Akughabis an astute and seasoned journalist and, a quintessential administrator with experience spanning over three decades. He is the Managing Director and Principal Consultant of Wovik communications, a media consultancy/ advertising agency with cutting edge abilities in creating Television and radio content for individuals and organisations. The Creator, producer and anchor of Inside the Niger Delta with Mamode Akugha, a premium Television programme that focuses on the Niger Delta region that has grown to become the much sought after authentic voice of Nigeria’s oil – rich region. He is also the Producer and anchor of the popular radio show ‘Which Way Nigeria? which is syndicated across several radio stations in the country.
The business of protecting the environment of Nigerthe Delta is a business that music-riched with all seriousness it deserves. *”A study published in May 2020 found that the daily global carbon emissions during the lockdown measures in early April fell by 17% and could lead to an annual carbon emissions decline of up to 7%, which would be the biggest drop since World War II according to the researchers. They ascribe these decreases mainly to the reduction of transportation usage and industrial activities. However, it has been noted that rebounding could diminish reductions due to the more limited industrial activities. Nevertheless, societal shifts caused by the coronavirus lockdowns – like widespread telecommuting and the use of virtual conference technology – may have a more sustained impact beyond the short term reduction of transportation usage.”
That is why His Excellency, Governor Douye Diri has taken it up as one of his cardinal objectives to bring together this accomplished team of scholors and environmental advocates to interrogate and broaden the issues of post COVID 19 dynamics.
The program is being coordinated by the Director of Strategic Communications, Documentation and Speech Writing to the Governor in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment and powered by Red Sapphire Events Management, Media and PR Consultant.
Environment
Prolonged Public Holidays Come with Negative Economic Effects on Citizens – Anambra Residents
Anambra residents have slammed the additional day approved by the Federal Government for the Muslim faithful to celebrate the 2024 Eid-Ei-Fitr, saying this will have negative effects on the economy.
The Federal government had early declared April 9 and 10 as Muslim-Ummah for the successful completion of a month’s spiritual rejuvenation.
Reports says that residents of Anambra capital city believe that the additional day which they did not plan for will result in economic hardship to the citizenry.
Most respondents believe that people had planned to resume their economic activities instead of wasting their time staying at home doing nothing..
Former Chairman, Awka Chamber of Commerce, Chief Felly Akosa, described the additional day to the two days approved earlier as “unfair to the economy of the country as people were unprepared for the additional day.
Akosa said that although it is right for the Muslim faithful to celebrate their holiday after a month-long fasting, the process needs to be carefully planned for in place of the additional rest day which could inhibit business activities.
Chief Damian Okeke-Ogene, National Vice President of Igbo Apex Social Cultural body, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, said the policy would cause huge economic waste as businesses are put on hold,
He advised that, in future, a proper and well planned programme needs to be in place before declaring a public holiday for any celebration that will be national.
“Our economy and other sectors are not very healthy,” and it would, therefore be appropriate to plan well to avoid declarations that will hamper the citizens’ welfare.
Mazi Christian Beluchukwu, a business man in Awka, described the extension of the Eid-El-Fitr public holiday to Thursday, April 11, as an added hardship for the citizenry.
Beluchukwu said that any public holiday for three days, April 9 to 11, to celebrate any feast in the country is an economic loss to the nation.
He said that it was best to stick to the two-day national public holidays as this gives room for the people to plan their activities very well.
He stated that his wife went to a public hospital on Tuesday and was unattended to because there was no doctor on seat to provide medical attention.
“She resorted to visiting a private hospital which cost extra money which the public hospital is expected to handle at a reasonable cost. (NAN)
The Jos Water Services Corporation (JWSC) has said that the World Bank fund received would be used to boost water supply to Bukuru and environs in Jos South Local Government Area.
Mr Apollos Samchi, the Managing Director of the corporation, said that N1.7 billion would be expended on the rehabilitation of water treatment plant, over head steel tank and laying of pipes to homes of consumers.
Samchi, who disclosed this on Friday in Jos, during a two-day capacity building workshop, said that the projects were expected to be completed in four months.
Reports says that the workshop organised for contractors has at its theme: “Implementation of Environmental and Social Management Plans for Projects in Jos South.
The MD said that the projects would ensure steady provision of potable water to residents in Gyel and Kurgiya in Jos South Local Government Area.
He said the treatment plant when rehabilitated would pump out 5,000 cubic litres of water daily.
The MD further stated that the reticulation exercise would cover residents who weren’t initially connected to public water supply in the area.
Samchi said that the essence of the workshop was to ensure that the contractors were trained to develop adequate measures and controls to minimise and mitigate potential environmental and social risks that could adversely affect the project implementation.
He called on all the contractors handling the projects to ensure that they adhered to the environmental and safety standards and deliver within the specified timeframe.
In his remarks, Mr Jonathan Malann, the Plateau Project Coordinator, Sustainable Urban, Rural Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene programme (SURWASH), also advised contractors to adhere to the environmental and safety standards as provided by the World Bank.
The Federal Government had received $700m financing from the World Bank to ensure that all its people have access to sustainable and safely managed WASH services.
The seven participating states are Plateau, Delta, Ekiti, Gombe, Imo, Katsina, and Kaduna.(NAN)
The Gombe State Executive Council (SEC) has approved payment of N389 million as compensation for residents that would be affected by the gully erosion control project at Federal College of Education (FCE) Technical and its surrounding communities.
The Commissioner for Finance, Gombe State, Malam Mohammed Magaji, stated this at the end of the SEC meeting on Friday in Gombe.
Magaji said the payment, which would commence immediately, would be for individuals and organisations along the gully erosion site.
He said almost 1000 persons were expected to benefit from the gesture.
According to him, the compensation is part of the requirements of the World Bank, which specifies that such payments be made to property owners.
Magaji said the payment would also be made to ensure seamless resettlement of affected persons.
“The beneficiaries are in hundreds, almost a 1,000 people; there is compensation for houses, and also for business premises.
“There is also stipends for the elderly living around that area so that they are able to have good livelihood,” he said.
The commissioner for Education, Hajiya Aishatu Maigari, also said the SEC approved upgrade of the five mega senior secondary schools in the state to sustain improvement in the education sector.
Maigari said the upgrade would be carried out based on the needs of each of the schools.
She stated that infrastructure in some of the schools were already being upgraded to global standards.
“We have seen construction of toilets, installation of solar-powered light, construction of roads, school clinics, boreholes and many more,” she said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the state government had on Nov. 23 signed a N12 billion contract with Triacta Nigeria Ltd. for a 21-kilometre gully erosion control work in six communities within Gombe metropolis.
The project is under ACRESAL project, a World Bank-assisted project to address the challenges of land degradation and climate change in northern Nigeria. (NAN)
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